When it comes to street fighting and real world combat, two fighting styles often compared are boxing and muay thai.
And a common debate is which is better, boxing vs muay thai for self defense?
In my own opinion and coming from a slightly biased viewpoint of being a muay thai practitioner, then muay thai would be better for self defense, for a number of reasons that will be presented further on in this post.
I have discussed in depth in another post the good and bad for muay thai as self defense – here.
But boxing does offer valuable skills and training that can be very useful in self defense and this includes developing mental fortitude and the ability to stay calm in a physical altercation.
But let’s get into why, in my opinion when it comes to boxing vs muay thai for self defense, muay thai is the better option by far.
Boxing vs Muay Thai for Self Defense – Match-Up
Let’s get into the question of boxing vs muay thai for self defense by using a scoring system to award points for each of the key self defense questions which in my opinion make a style “good” for self defense.
In this scoring system it is either “1” or “0”.
Can it be Used Against Bigger, Stronger Attackers?
In a lot of cases, those who are interested in self defense are women and attackers are often men who are bigger and stronger than women – in most cases.
So, the need for a system that works against bigger and stronger attackers is key in self defense (at least in my opinion)
In terms of use against bigger and stronger opponents, unfortunately both boxing and muay thai are ring based combat sports that utilize rules and regulations such as weight classes.
So handling bigger and stronger attackers is not often the priority in boxing and muay thai gyms and you will be mostly facing opponents who are the same size as you, generally speaking and in terms of weight classes.
But, if one combat sport (either boxing or muay thai) has to score, then I would have to give this to muay thai.
For the simple reason that muay thai comes from muay boran which is a battlefield combat art used in unarmed combat in the warring periods of Siam (Ancient Thailand) and against opponents who were not necessarily of the same size.
Also muay thai has a wider variety of weapons including knees and elbows which a smaller person can use effectively against a larger, stronger attacker.
Of course a well timed and targeted punch can knock a larger and stronger attacker out but I would have to give this one to muay thai.
So in terms of facing larger, stronger attackers:
- Muay thai – 1
- Boxing – 0
Is it useful against armed attackers?
Both boxing and muay thai do not train to handle armed attackers.
Whether it be knife attacks, clubs, sticks or batons, neither boxing or muay thai train to deal with armed attackers.
However, again based on muay thai origins in muay boran and the ancient battlefields, I would have to give this one to muay thai again.
In comparison to boxing, also muay thai has longer range weapons, the most useful of whichI feel is the teep or straight kick which can be used against an armed attacker to keep distance.
And the teep can create much greater distance and be used from a safer distance than boxing longest range weapon which is the Jab.
Overall, both boxing and muay thai do not train to deal with armed attackers – but based on muay thai origins in muay boran (which can be learnt today) I feel it would be more useful in self defense against an armed attack than boxing.
So against an armed attack, again muay thai scores 1 point and boxing – 0.
- Muay thai – 1
- Boxing – 0
Can It Be Useful Against Multiple Attackers?
Another key self defense situation (in my opinion) that should be asked of any self defense style is, can it be used effectively against more than one attacker?
Once again as combat sports, boxing and muay thai only train exclusively to deal with one opponent under a controlled setting and of the same weight class.
Multiple opponents are basically never considered across all boxing and muay thai gyms.
And one could definitely argue that well timed and targeted punches can take out multiple attackers fairly quickly.
But in this situation I would again have to give the point to muay thai.
Especially with regards to the muay thai clinch (which is trained to a high level in muay thai) that can be used to control and attacker and position them in a manner that blocks other attackers from reaching you.
The video below shows how to use the muay thai clinch effectively against more than one attacker in self defense.
Again in my opinion the use of longer range weapons in muay thai, mainly the teep, is very useful to keep distance and make your escape when possible.
And this long range weapon is more effective and keeping distance and allow you to strike your opponent from further away than the longest weapon in boxing which is the jab.
So, in my opinion when it comes to multiple attackers, although both boxing and muay thai do not train to deal with more than one opponent, muay thai has more weapons and techniques to handle multiple attackers than boxing.
And muay thai gets the score here again.
- Muay thai – 1
- Boxing – 0
Boxing vs Muay Thai for Self Defense: Boxing Strengths
So while, I have scored in favor of muay thai over boxing for self defense, I still feel boxing an be very useful for self defense.
Boxing Develops Mental Strength
Oe of the main reasons is the mental fortitude and strength that boxing can develop in anyone.
This kind of mental strength and ability to stay calm under fire is crucial in self defense. As panicking will not help at all in a self defense situation.
The ability to develop these mental toughness and “calmness under fire” attributes are well recognised and is on the reasons why boxing is mandatory across military training in many countries.
After all, “everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face”.
Boxing Prepares Fighter for the Most Commonly Used Street Attacks
In a self defense situation or street fight, the most commonly used weapons in unarmed combat are punches.
And boxing is specifically developed to defend against, counter and strike with deadly punches.
So boxing in a lot of ways is able to deal with the most common street fight unarmed weapons.
Boxing vs Muay Thai for Self Defense – Final Score
Based on a must score system used in this article for the key self defense questions asked here, in my opinion, muay thai is much better for self defense than boxing.
This is based on common self defense situations, being; i) can it be used against bigger, stronger attackers? ii) can is be used against armed attackers? iii) can it be effective against multiple attackers?.
One could argue that boxing can be used in all the situations above also.
But in my opinion and experience, muay thai more effectively addresses the common self defense situation from above (in comparison to boxing).
This does not mean that muay thai is the best style to learn for self defense.
But in comparison to boxing in a straight head to head match up, in my opinion, muay thai wins hands down.
